They shook their heads.
“Then we should ask Mrs. D about them and force her to tell us the truth.”
“No,” Remy and Bran said at the same time, horror on their faces.
“Why not?”
“We are going after the demons, and she “will stop us from leaving if she knows. She might not be able to read your mind, but she can read ours,” Bran explained. “Right now she thinks we’re going after the Runners to finish canceling the contracts.”
I frowned. “She doesn’t agree with Master Haziel’s decision and is trying to find Grampa and the senior Cardinals to stop us from leaving the valley. I heard her thoughts before she left.”
Bran and Remy exchanged a glance.
“No one is stopping us from leaving, but having a name will make it much easier to locate them,” Bran said. “Lil, go and see what Master Haziel wants while I get the crystals.” He glanced at Remy.
“I’ll fix the hole in Lil’s bedroom and get the others,” Remy said. “Let’s meet at my place ASAP.”
- 5 -
THE POWER WITHIN
According to my scan, Master Haziel was at the library, as were Izzy, Kim, and Sykes. The hallways usually buzzed with students, but now they were eerily silent. It felt weird. Like a tomb.
I hurried toward the entrance, the massive doors gleaming under the lights on the walls. For some reason, the scenes of ancient battles between Guardians and demons etched on the wooden panels and frames seemed so real.
I waved a hand and the massive doors flew back and creaked on their hinges. I cringed. Having too much power had its drawbacks. Lucky for me, the door was sturdy.
Like the hallways, the Academy’s rotunda, with its soaring columns, torch-like glowing crystals on the wall, and leather benches along the walls, was empty too.
I paused in the middle of the foyer and glanced up at the painting of Goddess Xenia on the dome-shaped ceiling. In a white, flowing robe, her huge white wings raised, glorious red-hair tumbling down her back and the Kris Dagger in her hand, she looked infallible. I was the failure who had let the demons break the bond between me and the dagger.
“I promise, I’ll bond with it again,” I vowed.
“Talking to yourself, Lil?” Ms. Laylah’s cheerful voice called out.
She stood in the doorway of the library, the only room with blazing lights, her graying hair braided and wrapped around her head like a crown.
I pointed at the ceiling. “I’m talking to her.”
She glanced up at the ceiling and chuckled. “She can hear, you know.”
Then hopefully, she would know the dagger problem wasn’t my fault.
“If you’re looking for your friends, they are downstairs in the archives,” Ms. Laylah said.
“No, I’m here to see Master Haziel.”
“He’s in there somewhere.” She stepped back and beckoned me forward. “Not having the children around is turning this place into a mausoleum, but he enjoys the quiet.”
He would. He was so eccentric. I went through the main room, checking niches where student often hid while making out. He wasn’t in the main room. I entered the quiet, reading area in the back and saw him at the end booth, his nose buried in a book, white hair peeking above the top. The brown, leather cover had the same picture of Goddess Xenia as the painting in the foyer. He lowered the book, revealing his bearded, ancient face. As usual, he wore an off-white linen tunic shirt.
“I expected you to bring the dagger to me as soon as you arrived in the valley,” he scolded.
Yeah, well, we don’t always get what we want, do we? I wanted to retort, but I couldn’t bring myself to be rude to him. He was the wisest Guardian and best trainer I’d ever had. And he took such pride in my accomplishments.
“Sorry.” I removed the sheath holding the Kris Dagger from my waist and placed it before him. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Sit down, Lil.” He placed the book he’d been reading face down, then pulled the dagger from its sheath and studied it, his lips puckering in thought. “Interesting.”
I frowned. “What?”
“Things that were meant to happen have come to pass,” he murmured.
I hated it when he went all cryptic and mysterious. “What things?”
“Prophesies fulfilled, some too soon and others too slow. Do you notice anything different about the blade?” he asked, extending the dagger toward me.
I was still trying to read the meaning behind his words and scowled. The blade was clear, the etched ancient scribbles gone. No wonder it couldn’t bond with me. The demons had destroyed the means through which I linked with the dagger.
“The writings are gone.”
“Yes.” Then he looked up and studied me. “Remove your coat.”
“Uh, excuse me?”
He gestured impatiently. “Coat. Off.”
Sighing, I stood and shrugged off the trench coat.
He took my hands and held them in pace, his gaze running up to where my T-shirt hugged my upper arms. He lifted my arms to check the underside. “Hmm. Turn around and lift up your T-shirt.”
“Master Haziel,” I protested.
“I want to see your lower back,” he said.
“Sighing again, I turned and lifted my T-shirt. There was silence. I tried to twist around and look, but I couldn’t see a thing. “What are you looking for?”
“The writings from the dagger,” he explained. “The demons did not destroy them. They were transferred to you.”
“What?” I screeched. No matter how far I twisted, I couldn’t see them. “Why?”
“There is no need to panic. If the prophesy is right, this is the dagger’s way of protecting itself and you. When the writings from the dagger were transferred to you, its powers were transferred too. You are now our Goddess Xenia’s weapon.”
“Weapon?” I blurted out then frowned as the echoes of that same word resounded inside my heard, like I’d heard it before. Pulling my shirt down, I sat. “Have we had this discussion before?”
“Not with me.” Then he did something strange. He reached across the desk and placed his gnarled hand against my temple. “You are warm and your pulse is racing.”
“Yeah, it’s called a panic attack.”
He scowled. “Guardians do not have panic attacks. How is your head?”
“Fine.”
“Telling lies is beneath you, Lil Falcon,” he reprimanded.
Wasn’t he just full of sage advice this afternoon? “I have a headache. How did you know?”
“I just do,” he said mysteriously. “The memory loss is because of the attack, but the effect is temporary because of the dagger’s power inside you. Your body is adjusting and that is why you have the headache. You will be physically fine once the power moves back to the dagger.”
It was only temporary. Great! “When will that be?”
“When the Goddess decides you and the dagger are safe.”
The certainty in his voice was reassuring. Still, I frantically searched my arms. There was nothing. Maybe he was wrong about the transfer.
“Keep the dagger with you at all times. When the writings appear on your skin, grip the dagger and see if they are transferred back. Come and see me immediately. Take the book too.” He pushed the book with the picture of the Goddess toward me. “You might learn a thing or two.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I don’t have time to read.”
“Make time.” When I hesitated, he added, “It is merely fifty pages. I will quiz you in a few days.”
“Quiz? You’re kidding.” Even as the words left my mouth, I knew the answer. He never joked. “It’s not fair. I was attacked today and my memories were wiped out… and…and I just learned I’m a freaking weapon. I don’t need homework. I need to know how to transfer the power back to my dagger before the Tribe attacks again.”
He scowled. “The Tribe?”
“You know, the demons that attacked us. Were they summoned by the…Summoners!” I angl
ed my head and tried to listen to his thoughts, but all I heard was static. I guess having lived for eight hundred years meant he’d learned a thing or two about keeping his students out of his head. On the other hand, he couldn’t block his emotions. He was shocked by my words. “You know about them, don’t you?”
Instead of answering, he studied me intently. “Where did you hear these words?”
“From Mrs. D and the Civilians’ thoughts, but the words sounded familiar. You know, like I’d heard them before.”
He pursed his lips with disapproval but I refused to feel guilty.
“Who are they? Or are you going to deny you know them too?” I challenged. “Like Mrs. D.”
He chuckled. “No, Lil, I am not going to lie to you. I did not approve of the senior Cardinals’ decision to keep you children in the dark. Yes, demons summoned the Tribe. Find these demons, the Summoners, and force them to send the Tribe home. Do not go after the Tribe. You are not ready to face them, not until you are in control of the Kris Dagger. With the Tribe, you only get one chance.” He raised one gnarled finger.
Ominous. “And where’s home? Tartarus?”
He shot me a look I couldn’t read, then said, “Go on. Your friends are waiting. Remember, do not go after the Tribe.”
I grabbed the book he’d given me and my coat, and got up.
“I will see you and your friends first thing tomorrow morning at seven o’clock sharp.”
I frowned. “What’s happening at seven in the morning?”
“We will start a new training regimen. You need to learn how to use your new powers until they are transferred back to the dagger.” His eyes twinkled as though he looked forward to our next session.
I wanted to scream that I didn’t want to be a weapon, whatever that meant, but it would be pointless. Grinding my teeth, I deliberately broke one of the Academy’s rules—I teleported from the library.
The guys were at Remy and Sykes’, but I detoured to my house first, dropped off the book, and undressed. There were no other markings anywhere on my body except for my birthmark. I should be relieved, but I wasn’t. Being me just sucked more than usual.
I yanked my clothes back on and teleported to the guys’ place.
Everyone looked up. Bran got up and walked to my side. “What did Master Haziel want?”
“He said we can’t go after the Tribe. We should find the Summoners instead.”
“Why?” Bran asked.
I shrugged. “Taking down them is complicated and we are not ready.”
“That’s bull,” Sykes retorted. “We are.”
The others nodded. Bran didn’t. His gaze stayed locked on my face. The others were running on emotions while he…he was thinking things through, plotting.
“We are also pissed,” Remy added. “The senior Cardinals know the identity of these demons and didn’t tell us. I’m sure you don’t remember this, Lil, but they had us on a lockdown while they tried to locate the Tribe’s den. Didn’t exactly go well for them, so it’s now our turn.”
The others nodded again.
Bran wasn’t ready to jump on the bandwagon. “Why does he think we are not ready?”
“Because my powers are off.” I explained everything Master Haziel told me about the dagger’s powers transferring to me. “I hope he’s wrong.”
Silence followed as they studied my hands.
I extended my arms and rolled up the sleeves of my coat. My skin was still clear. “He said the ancient markings will appear soon, but my body is still adjusting to the power surge from the dagger. That is why I have this crazy headache.”
Everyone started asking questions at once.
I raised my hand. “I can’t answer all your questions because I’m still trying to understand what is happening to me. The headache started when I gained consciousness on the island. Yes, I tested my powers and created a giant hole on my bedroom floor.” I glanced at Remy. “Thanks for fixing it. My teleporting is different and my Psi abilities are off the charts. I can hear your thoughts and feel whatever you guys are feeling, whether my shield or yours are up.” Their expression became guarded. “I know you hate hearing that, but believe me, I’m not too thrilled either.”
The first time they’d learned about my empathic abilities, they’d reacted the same way—with revulsion—except Bran. I had had to promise never to read them. Their thoughts drifted to me and I sighed.
“No, Remy, I don’t hear and feel stuff all the time. Like my headache, one minute I’m bombarded with thoughts and emotions, the next it’s blissfully silent and calm.” I glanced at Kim. “No, my powers haven’t shown the same instability. As for you two,” I glared at Sykes and Izzy, “don’t feel sorry for me or I will go off on the both of you.”
Another silence, with grimaces and uneasy smiles, followed. If possible, their worries shot up a notch. “I mean it, guys. Ixnay on pity-fest. Can we leave now?”
“We must discuss this first, Lil,” Izzy said. “I don’t care that you can hear my thoughts and read my feelings, I’ve nothing to hide. But, I need to know if you are now exactly like the Kris Dagger. Can you sense demons?”
“Shoot out the dagger’s special rays?” Sykes added.
“What if your powers ebb when you are fighting a demon?” Kim added.
“Come on, guys,” Bran protested. “Leave her alone.”
“It’s okay,” I reassured him. “If my powers disappear, Kim, I can still fight. If that fails, you guys can protect me just like you did on the island, just like I would protect you if something were to happen to your powers.” Kim made a face. “But if my presence bothers you, I can stay at home.”
“No,” several voices protested.
Bran cocked a brow. “Kim?”
Kim glared at him then the others. “I didn’t say I wanted her to stay behind.” She smiled at me. “I’m used to having you and the dagger as our safety net. It’s a bit weird to go out knowing that net is gone.”
Surprised she hadn’t said something mean, I smiled back and patted the hilt of the dagger. “We might not be able to link, but we are both here.”
Everyone laughed, and tension leached out of the room.
Bran stood. “Okay, let’s do this. We’ll start with our first stop.” He pulled a clairvoyant blue crystal from his inner coat pocket, placed it on the table and activated it by waving his hand above it. An image shot from the core and hovered above the table. “We usually do this before we leave so we can choose entry position,” he explained, glancing at me.
“Have I been here before?” I asked while studying the medium-sized house with overgrown lawn and weedy flower beds. “I don’t recognize it.”
“No, this is where Mrs. Watts is hiding. She was reluctant to cancel her contract when we visited her a week ago in Myrtle Beach. That was the night we first encountered one of the Tribe demons. We couldn’t see her again after that because of the lockdown. Mrs. D’s team found out she’d moved and just located her this morning.”
“She’s definitely slumming,” Izzy said, nodding at the holographic-like image.
“She didn’t want to be found.” Bran’s gaze swept everyone. “I know you guys would rather skip going after her and the other Runners and just start searching for the Summoners, but Mrs. D expects a report.”
“And the Watts will be off our list,” Sykes added with a knowing smirk.
“True,” Bran said with a slight smile. “But I also want to see if seeing Mrs. Watts triggers Lil’s memory. Any question?”
I couldn’t wait to leave. Being cooped up in the room with the others was slowly driving me crazy. What part of “don’t feel sorry for me” didn’t they get?
- 6 -
MRS. WATTS
We appeared behind a walled fence. A barking dog alerted an elderly couple walking down the narrow street of our presence, and they eyed us suspiciously. Six teens in trench coats in the middle of summer in L.A. were bound to draw attention.
Ignore us, I projected into their
thoughts.
They continued with their walk, but when I turned around, the others were watching me like they expected me to do something crazy.
“Will you guys think of something else? The Summoners, demons, Mrs. Watts, anything,” I said through clenched teeth. “Just stop stressing about me. Look at them,” I pointed at the couple. “I just told them to ignore us and their heads didn’t explode.”
Bran’s energy brushed against mine and I exhaled. No matter how much I loved that he could excite or calm me down with a touch, he really shouldn’t allow his energy near mine until my powers were stable.
Squinting against the sun, I started up the slabs leading to the front entrance of Mrs. Watts’ home. The clairvoyant image had been kind. Plywood—or possibly cardboard—covered some of the windows, as though she was in the process of boarding up her house for a hurricane or tornado. A lone hose snaked past untrimmed rose bushes and shrubberies, crossed the dry grass and ended in a plastic pool filled with dirty water and dead bugs. A van, its windows shattered, stood in the driveway.
My senses picked up a familiar energy. The more I tried to identify it, the more elusive it became and the harder my head pounded. As we got closer, I realized that most of the windows had no covering. Our boots crunched on shards of glass littering the porch.
“What’s with the glass?” Kim murmured.
“It’s from the windows.” Remy pointed at the jagged edges of broken glass bordering the windows. He picked up a large piece, turned it over in his hand, then glanced through one of the windows. “Every glass surface in the room is shattered, even the TV screen. It’s like a gas explosion or something.”
“Yet there’s no evidence of fire,” Sykes said.
“No, this is the work of a demon.” Bran stepped forward and pressed the doorbell. “Strong wind can shatter glass, right?” He glanced at Kim.
“And everything in its path,” Kim said. “This is something else.”
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